Plasterer&#39;s trowel



Oct. 17, 1950 H, OSCAR 2,526,401

PLASTERRS TRowEL Filed Jan. 16, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lsnventor aZ/arryscar Patented Oct. 17, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLASTERERS'TROWEL Harry Oscar, New York, N. Y.

Application January 16, 1947, Serial No. 722,408

(Cl. Y2- 136) 4 Claims.

1 This invention relates to plasterers trowels an more particularly totrowels which are to be used to form smooth plaster guide stripsimmediately adjacent to door, Window or other openings.

In forming a plaster guide strip immediately adjacent a door or windowopening, the conventional plasterers trowel does notA normally per- 'mitthe achievement of a true level surface relal tive to the trim member ofthe door or Window frame. Accordingly, it is an object of this inventionto provide an improved plasterers trowel which is adapted to be used ina manner whichY will insure a level plaster surface or guide stripimmediately adjacent the trim of a door or Window opening and the like.

Another objectof this invention is to provide a trowel of the characterdescribed vwhich is adapted to slidably move withrrespect to a fixedsurface, such as the trim member of a door frame, window frame or thelikel and to simultaneously .form the plaster adjacent the fixed surfaceinto a smooth, plane guide surface.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a trowel of thecharacter described, contoured guide plans which is complementary to afixed surface such as the molded trim member of a door or window frameand the like, wherein the guide means is adapted to move slidably withrespect to the fixed surface and to simultaneously clean the surface ofthe trim member over which it moves.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide in a trowel of thecharacter described, a guidemember adapted to move over the trim memberof a door or window opening and the like, the said guide member having asmoothmember removably attached thereto and including: interchangeablemeans for determining the smoothing level of the smoothing member withrespect to the guide portions of the trowel.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide in: a trowel of thecharacter described, a smoothing member adapted to produce a levelplaster surfacey or ground, immediately adjacent a trim member of'. adoor, Window frame or thev like, wherein a portion of the smoothingfmember is slida-bly engageablewith at least a portion of the said trimmember during the smoothing operation, thereby acting as a guide for thesmoothing member.

Yeta further' object of thisv invention is-to provde ina trowelcf thecharacter described, a smoothing/member having removably attachedtheretoA aV guide member which. is adapted to'slidably.VVV engage anenlongated member whichA includes a level element.4 More'. particularly,the

elongated member is adapted to be secured `at either end thereof over awall surface .in a manner to insure that the smoothing member produces aplane, .level plaster surface or ground adjacent the elongated member. f

vStill a further object of this invention li5 to provide a strong,durable, compact, device of the character described,- `which shall berelatively inexpensive to .manufacture easy to manipulate, andyetpractical and efcient to a high degree in use. Y

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations Aof elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplied in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope of application will be indicated in the .followingclaima In theaccompanying drawing, in .which is shown various possible illustrativeembodiments of this invention;

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the plasterers trowel showing thecomponent parts thereof in disassembled form;

- Fig. 2.is .avv perspective View of the ,plasterers trowel, shown inFig. l, in assembled. form;

Fig. 3 Vis a perspective view of 'aplasterers trowelembodying theinvention and illustrating a modied form of the invention;

Fig. Llis an enlarged cross section-al view of the plasterers trowelshown in Fig..l 3;

Fig. 5 isa perspective view of the plasterers trowel embodying theinvention, in use;

Fig. 6 is ar perspective view of a plasterers trowel embodying theinvention and illustrating amodicd form of the invention;

Fig.- '7 is a detailed cross sectional view of the guide and bladeportion of the trowel shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 isfaperspective view showing the under surface of. thev guide andblade .portion of the trowel. showninFig. 6;

Fig.. 9 is a front view showing thel plasterers trowelet Fig. 6-, muse;and

Fig. l0 isa detailed cross sectional view of a plastcrers; trowelembodying. the invention and illustrating aA still. further modifiedform of the in-l vention. f

Referring now in. detail to the drawing, 1 0 designa-tes aV plastererstrowel embodying the 1nvention. rEhe trowel I0 comprises a guide memberf l-I'` made of. metal or the like,` a. smoothing mem-Y frame or thelike.

struction.

l and 'the like.

end portions thereof. Extending from the flange I4 and at an anglethereto is a narrow wall I6 coextensive in length with the ilange. To amid portion of the wall I6 is secured a handle I'I. The handle IIincludes a base portion I3 which may be Welded or otherwise secured tothe wall I6. A handle fmember I9, extending in spaced, parallelyrelationship to the base portion I8, is interconnected thereto at oneend by a member 20.

Extending outwardly and downwardly from the wall I6 is a guide portion2| which is of suitably contoured cross section. The guide portion 2| iscoextensive in length with the wall I6. The specific cross section ofthe guide portion 2l of the guide member II is complementary to themolded trim member-of a door frame, window 'Ihe cross section shown inFigs. 1 and 2 is typical of but a single type of a door buck. It isapparent that the contoured guide portion 2l may be formed to suit anyof the door or window frame trims conventionally used.

The smoothing or trowel member I 2 comprises a rectangular block of woodor the like material, having a length substantially euual to the lengthof the flange I4 and having vertical edge surfaces 22, 22a equal inthickness to the height of the flange I4. The block I2 is formed with apair of through openings 23 which extend from edge 22a to edge 22. Theblock I2 is removably secured I2 and screw into the threaded openings I5in .the flange v I4. It will be apparent from a consideration of Fig. 2that the through openings 23 are located between the flat surfaces ofthe, block I2 so that when the block is secured to the member I I', thelower at surface of the block is coextensive with the lower edge of theflange I4.

It is desirable to form plaster guide strips having a predeterminedlevel with respect to the,-`

.edge ,portions of the Aadjacent door or windowl trim. Accordingly,there is provided means for tend from the edge 22a to the edge 22 of theYblock and which are closer to one surface of the block than the other.Further sets of openings may be formed in the block at other selectedlocations whereby a different adjustment mayY K be made to provide thedesired level relationship between the smoothing member and the guidemember.

In Fig. V3l there is shown a trowel embodying the invention and'illustrating a modied con- The trowel Ia comprises a guide member 30and a trowel blade or smoothing member 3I detachably secured thereto.The

guide member 30 comprises a planar edge portion 'y 3 2 from whichextends a contoured portion 33 coextensive in length with the edgeportion 32.

YThe contoured portion 33 includes arcuate and other molded sectionscorresponding to the molded trim portions of door bucks, window framesIt is understood that the guide member 30 may be provided in variousmolded forms to complement any one of the molded trims conventional inthe door and window frame art. Ihe planar edge portion 3.2 ofthe guidemember `1s formed with openings 34vat either end thereof for the purposehereinafter described.

The trowel blade or smoothing member 3l @Qmprises a substantiallyrectangular sheet of relatively thin metal orthe like 35. A planar edgeportion 36 is interconnected to the sheet 35 by a wall or flange 31which extends at right angles to edge portion 36 and sheet 35. The sheet35 and the edge portion 36 are in offset, parallel relationship to eachother. The edge portion 36 of the blade 3| is formed with throughopenings 38 at either end thereof. A handle 39 is secured in anysuitable manner to the edge portion 36 of the blade in spacedrelationship thereto through a member 40, as shown in Fig. 3.

The trowel blade or smoothing member 3l is detachably secured to theguide member 30 by means of flat headed screws 4I passing through theopenings 34 in the edge portion 32 of the guide member and the alignedopenings 38 in the edge portion 36 of the blade member 3| and secured bynuts 42. It is often desirable to regulate the level of the plasteradjacent the door or window trim with respect to the edge of the trim.Accordingly, means is provided to permit the trowel to smooth theplaster to any desired level with respect to the trim adjacent thereto.To this end, removable shim elements 43 formed with through openings 44are provided. The shim elements 43, which are in selected thicknesses,have a length and width substantially equivalent to the correspondingdimension of the edge portion 36 of the smoothing member 3I and edgeportion 32 of the guide member 30u By interposing shim elements of theproper thickness or combination of thicknesses between the superposedportions of the guide and smoothing members with the screws 4I passingthrough the openings 44 in the shimv elements which are aligned withopenings 34 and 38, as shown in Fig. 4, the relationship of the blade35' with respect to the guide member 33 is established. This in turnpermits the determination of the level of the surface of the plasterstrip adjacent the door or window frame when the trowel is used as shownin Fig. 5. Since the shims 43 are of the same width as the edge portion32 and the edge portion 36,'the flange 3'! has contacting engagementwith the side edges of the shims as well vas the edge of the guide andthis causes the guide and the blade to be effectively braced againsttilting movement relative to each other.

In using the trowel shown in Figs. 3 and 4 it Vis only necessary toselect the propershims 43,

assemble the guide member and the blade member with the interposed shimsand secure the assembled parts by means of the screws 4I and nuts 42.The guide member 30 is selected to complement the particular molded trimsurface upon which the trowel is to operate.

Frequently, the trim of the window or door frames becomes encrusted withplaster or other foreign matter. In using the trowels embodying theinvention herein, the guide members act as a cleaning means as the guidemember moves over the surface of the trim. The leading edge of the guidemember is effective in removing plaster and the like which may beladherent to the surface of the door buck, window trim or the like.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a trowel embodying the invention and showing afurther modification of the invention. The trowel IIlb is adapted to beused for forming plaster guide strips on wall or ceiling surfaces. Thestrips are relatively narrow in width and are arranged at suitablyspaced distances along'the lwall or ceiling. When the grQlmd Strips areformed, the spaces previously tformed.n 'The .trowel .lbcpml-hebombineditrowe'blade andguide is mounted f slidable'movement on`an elongated member "52; '.The guide' memberv 50 .bomp'risesa substan-Vtially"rectangular sheet'oLmetal orthe like 5 3 'h a'vin'gVl downwardlyextending flange portions 55 along the'sides thereof. "Eac'h of theflange p ortionsa-'542has" 'anfin'wa'rdly' extending edge portion55fothe' purpo'se hereinafter described.. A

'h'andle 56'v is `secured to a ."mid portion of the gide 5l'.r"lhe.handle .56 Acomprises a base por- 'sebur'd tol the shee't53 .o'f-vthe guide mmbel A handle member 58 extends in spaced, parallelrelatinshiprtbfthe base portion 51 and is interconnected at one endthereto by a member 59. The sheet 53 of the guide member is formed alongneedge thereof adjacent the flange 5,4, with `in afnewpositionsuitablyspaced fromoriginal openings 60, for the purpose hereinafter described.y

The smoothing blade 5I comprises a substantially'rectangular portion ofsheet metal or the like ,6I having a slightlSr downwardly curved sideed'gefpdrtijon ss.- From me eppsite sdef the I rectangular portion 6|there extends downwardly a flange S4. Extending upwardly from the lower'edge of the flange 64, is a wall 65 from the upper edge of which extendsoutwardly a wall or edge portion 66. The wall 56 extends in parallelrelationship to the rectangular portion 6I of the smoothing member. Theforward and rearward ends of the rectangular portion 6I have upwardlycurved edge portions 61. The wall B5 is formed with through openings 68for the purpose hereinafter described. y

The guide 50 and the blade 5| are detachably secured together by meansof nat head screws 59 which pass through the aligned openings 6E) and 68in the guide and blade members respectively, and engage nuts 10. Thelevel of the blade 52 with respect to the guide 50 may be adjusted bythe use of shim elements 69a formed with openings 69h therein,interposed between the edge of the guide member and the wall 65 of theblade 5I and the side edges of the shims are engaged by the flange ofthe blade to brace the blade in the manner previously described.

The elongated member 52 is substantially rectangular in shape and may bemade of wood, metal or the like. The member 52 is formed along itsopposed edge portions with grooves 1|. The guide member 50 is adapted toslidably move on the member 52 with the inturned edge portions 55 of theguide engaging the grooves 1I of the member 52. The member 52 further-includes level elements of the spirit bubble type or the like 12,mounted on appropriate portions of the member as shown in Fig. 6, forthe purpose hereinafter described.

In using the trowel IDb, the member 52 is temporarily secured to a wallsurface by means of fastening elements such as nails, screws and thelike in a vertical position as shown in Fig. 9. The level bubble 12 onthe member 52 is used to properly level the member with respect to theWall surface. The guide 5l) together with the smoothing blade Elslidably moves on member 52, thereby forming a level plaster guide stripimmediately adjacent the member 52. The member 52 is then detached fromits position on the wall and is secured to the wall surfacepyositionjanvzl the operation is Vrepeated?frllfheri a number of guide4stripshave .been rthus formed,

'plasteris applied to :the wall rsurface on portions intermediate theguide vstrips .andlis `suitably leveled usingtthelguidestrips*inconjunction with a leveling tool or` straight edge.It is to be noted thatthe'blade .6| `will form aplasterguidestriplhaving one edge for-medwith `a slightly ,rounded corner due to'tlecurved edge 63 of lthe'. blade l6l'. This facilitates Athe bonding ofthezinter# mediate portions of plaster with .the guidestrips fd'rme'd bythe Juse of trow'el'lilb. The lupwardly turned portions l6-1 on the`blade 6I facilitates the sliding'inovement of the blade over theplaster particularly when lumpy spots of plaster areencountered. Yrllhfi'i'it is desired to apply plasterguidestrips to 'the rnr pirtio'nsof'a room; trowel I0c' may be he'gude 5,0 Withthe shimsff'issimil ninFig. "7. and .is detachably se- ,v ed toaspccial trowel blade jasshowninF-ig. lQ. blade comprises planar snfooth'ingportinnws'l, H'wliiclf'areat rightv angles-to each other. wallorlflange exte'nds upwardly-fromsmoothing portion 8 l "anda wall 84 extends downvvardly and inwardlyfrom smoothing portion'82. An e' n" i d `e" portion7850extends'routwardly from flange to fo'rn astrl portion which is'fOrmedwith "openings `s'a""`t e'eive belts, wereby'fathe trowel blade may bedetachably secured to the guide 5!) with the flange 83 bearing againstthe guide and shims interposed between the guide and the edge portionv35. End walls '81 interconnect the planar smoothing portions 8|, 82 andthe walls 83, '84. In using this type of trowel blade, the member 52 issecured to the wall surface adjacent the corner to be plastered. Themovement of trowel 4blade 80 and the guide 50 permits plaster to besmoothly applied on the two wall surfaces defining the corner and tothereby simultaneously produce guide strips on the intersecting wallsurfaces. The end walls 81 on the blade 8l] prevent plaster from gettinginto the hollow portions of the trowel blade.

It is understood that the trowels 10b and Ic may be used on ceilingsurfaces as well as on wall surfaces.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which theseveral objects of this invention are achieved, and which is welladapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth,it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. In a device of the character described, a guide member, a smoothingmember having an edge portion thereof disposed in superposed relationwith respect to the adjacent edge portion of the guide member, means fordetachably securing the superposed edge portions together, and shimmembers interposed between the aforesaid superposed edge portions,whereby the level of the smoothing surface ofsaid smoothing member maybe adjusted relative to said guide member.

2. In a device of the character described, -comprising a guide memberhaving a contoured surface adapted to cooperate with the corresponding''p"o '"rtio`nffoithe trim'of a door'or Window frame, f a'planarls'urface portion Yextending from said contoured'surface, aVsmoothing, member comprisinga blade portion and an edge portion, saidedge portion andsaid blade portion being in offset and parallelrelationshipto eachother, the edge por- ?tion. of said smoothing memberand the,v planar surface portion'of, said guide member being insuperposed relation. and detachably secured *to- Ygether; and shimmembers lying between the -superposed portions; whereby the level of thesmoothing surface of Vsaid smoothing vmember may be adjusted relative tosaid guide member.

3. A plasterers trowel comprising a member provided with a flat flange,an irregular shaped .portion extending from one side of said flat ange,a second member comprising a flat flange superimposed with respect tosaid rst fiat ange fand-having a shoulder extending at right angles tosaid flanges, and a flat portion extending at right angles to saidshoulder and parallel to said lflanges, means to attach said flangestogether Yand a handle fixed to said anges, the meansI for fattachingsaid flanges together comprising fasthreaded openings spaced from eachother longiengaged by said flange.

tudinally' thereof, av smoothing blade extending longitudinally of saidguide and projecting laterally from the innerside edge'thereof, saidblade having an innerside edge portion overlapping the innerside edgeportion of the guide and being formed'with a flange bearing against theinnerside edge of the guide, the innerside edge portion of said bladebeing formed with openings aligned with the threaded openings of theguide, screws passing through the openings of the blade and engaged inthe threadedopenings ofthe guide and servingto firmly hold the blade andthe guide Vdetachably connected with each other, and shim's disposedbetween the overlapped portions of the guide and the smoothing bladeVand holding the blade in predetermined relation to the plane of theguide and having outerside edges HARRY' OSCAR.

REFERENCES CITED I The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTs Y Number Name Y Date 1,744,097 Baker et al. Jan.2'1, 1930 2,179,563 Sassano Nov. 14, 1939 2,222,877 Neal Nov. 26, 1940

